The indications of an increase in youth delinquency in the police crime statistics have been confirmed in a large dark field study. A repetition of a survey at secondary schools in 2013 and 2015 shows that a higher proportion of young people committed property or violent crimes in 2024. In addition, a certain decline in self-control and moral rejection of rule-breaking can be observed. However, the majority of young people are still law-abiding. This is shown by a recent study led by Clemens Kroneberg, Professor of Sociology at the University of Cologne and member of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy.
A new dark field study on youth crime at secondary schools in North Rhine-Westphalia shows a significant increase in the prevalence of property and violent crimes among young people. Under the lead of Clemens Kroneberg, Professor of Sociology and member of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy at the University of Cologne, over 3,700 pupils at secondary schools in the Ruhr region were surveyed. The results allow a comparison with previous surveys from 2013 and 2015.
The result: most young people are law-abiding and have not committed any crimes. However, the proportion of pupils who have committed property and violent crimes such as shoplifting, robbery or assault is increasing. Compared to previous surveys, violent crime has risen by 31 percent in the 7th grade and by 24 percent in the 9th grade. It is particularly striking that girls are also committing violent crimes more frequently these days.
The carrying of knives among young people is rare overall: According to the self-report, most students (~85%) have never carried a knife at school or in their free time. The carrying of knives by a small number of young people at school nevertheless increases the risk of knives being used in individual cases when conflicts escalate. In the area of cybercrime, illegal streaming and downloading in particular is relatively widespread. Another problematic behavior on the Internet is aggressive behavior towards other people based on their origin, gender, skin color, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. While a clear majority of two thirds stated that they had never done this, it also occurs relatively frequently. Group-related online aggression is more widespread among boys than among girls.
With regard to leisure activities, fewer young people stated that they spend time with friends outside of school several times a week compared to previous surveys. Another finding of the study is that the young people surveyed – especially the girls – rated their self-control lower than ten years ago. Moral disapproval of breaking the rules has also fallen.
“These changes correspond with the observed increase in the prevalence of violent crime. Even if further analysis is needed to derive suitable measures in terms of evidence-based policy, the results presented here already suggest that strengthening the social and emotional skills of young people would make an important contribution to prevention,” says Clemens Kroneberg.
The background to the study is that Germany recorded an unexpectedly sharp increase in police-registered juvenile crime in 2022 after the number of cases fell during the COVID pandemic. This increase prompted the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament to commission an independent scientific investigation to clarify the causes and background to this rise. The interim report of the study, which has been published as an ECONtribute Policy Brief, can be found here.
Further analyses and results will be published at a later date in a more detailed full report.
